Windshield ice remover



June 6, 1950 A. L. Mc owE 2,510,594

WINDSHIELD ICE REMOVER Filed Sept. 20, 1946 INVEN TOR.

I/frra LII/204w, W-WZM dew/w 4 TTMA/E YJ Patented June 6, 1950 WINDSHIELDK ICE REMQY'EZRZ"; Alfred L. McDowell, Atwood, ontarib, Canada Application September 20, 1946, Serial No. 698,103

an automobile.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for flexing a double-edge blade so that such edges may be held in proper contact with the windshield during the cutting or scraping action.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for detachably securing the blade to the holder so that new blades may be used when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a simple and compact construction both heating means and scraping means.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section through a device embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device, parts in the open position,

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the device,

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the catch,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral l designates a stiff holder or body portion, which is transversely arched and is preferably in the form of a semicylindrical casing, having longitudinal edges The numeral I2 designates a normally flat blade, having double longitudinal cutting edges I3. This blade has longitudinally spaced slots H, as shown. This blade is flexible and resilient and is preferably formed of razor steel. The blade is thin and is preferably about 1 m. m. in thickness. The blade is suitably stiff so that it will retain its flexed shape during the cutting or scraping action.

Arranged within the holder or casing I0 is a stiff rod l5, having laterally offset loops I6 to enter the slots M of the blade. At one end, the rod l has a lateral extension pivotally connected with the end of the holder l0, as shown at l8. At its opposite end, the rod |5 has a lateral extension I9, for detiachable insertion within a resilient generally U-shaped catch 20, rigidly secured to the adjacent end of the holder l0.

Arranged within the holder or casing I0 is a longitudinal heating element 2|, extending longitudinally of and near the blade I2 and secured to binding posts 22, and held taut thereby. These binding posts are carried by the holder l0 and are insulated therefrom and are adapted for connection with the automobile electric circuit so that current is supplied to the heating element 2|.

Rigidly secured to theouter face of the holder Ill is a bracket or clip 23, adapted for connection with the moveable arm of a windshield wiper. The clip 23 is arranged at the longitudinal and transverse centers of the holder ID.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The rod may be swung to the open position, Figure 2, and the blade I2 applied to the rod, and the loops It will enter the slots M. The rod and blade are then swung upwardly toward the holder until the rod becomes parallel with the longitudinal axis of the holder, and the extension IE! will enter the spring catch 20' and the rod and blade held in the closed position. The rod I5 moves inwardly beyond the edges II and the blade I2 engages these edges and the blade is transversely flexed or arched. The double edges E3 of the blade extend outwardly beyond the edges Ii, for engagement with the windshield. It is preferred that the edge portions of the blade be arranged at about 15 to the surface of the windshield, although the invention is not limited to this arrangement. The arm of the windshield wiper swings the blade l2 over the windshield, while the element 2| heats and melts the ice, to some extent, and the ice is cut or scraped off. A new blade may be readily substituted when desired.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the invention and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A windshield cleaning device comprising a recessed elongated holder having longitudinal edges, 9, rod provided with lateral projections extending longitudinally of said holder between its longitudinal edges and having one end hingedly connected to one end of said holder, an elongated blade provided with longitudinal cutting edges arranged upon the rod within the holder recess and having openings to receive the projectionsand means to detachably connect the opposite end of the rod with the holder.

2. A windshield cleaning device comprising an elongated blade having longitudinal cutting edges, a rod extending longitudinally along one face of said blade intermediate the cutting edges of the latter and having its opposed ends projecting upwardly therefrom, an elongated arched holder arranged in parallel relation with respect to the other face of said blade intermediate the cutting edges of the latter and having one end hingedlyconnected to the adjacent projecting end of said rod, and means projecting from the other end of said holder and engageable with the other of the projecting ends of said rod for locking the holder in position on the blade.

ALFRED L. MCDOWELL.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

